BAE Systems has announced that it is to open a new £35 million training academy at Humberside Airport to produce up to 60 apprentices per year.
The facility will house the defence giant’s RJ Mitchell Aircraft Maintenance Academy, which will act as a nationwide hub to train apprentices to maintain and service the UK’s fighter jets and to support the company’s international customers.
The academy, which will be supported through the Regional Growth Fund, is named after the engineer behind aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire. It will incorporate a hangar, training aircraft, classrooms and practical-training workshops.
BAE will take on up to four groups of 15 apprentices each year; they will be trained to NVQ Level Three over a two-year period.
On-the-job training will take place at RAF Coningsby, RAF Marham and RAF Valley — on Typhoon, Tornado and Hawk jets respectively.
Once they have qualified, the apprentices will become part of the BAE Systems team, working alongside the RAF in support of the jets at RAF Coningsby and RAF Marham, as well as travelling overseas to support international customers.
Martin Blaze, BAE’s director of aircraft maintenance and support, said: “We are really looking forward to working with our partners on this exciting project.
"The academy gives us the opportunity to develop these individuals to the highest level of competence to ensure safe operations.
"We also anticipate that BAE Systems personnel from places such as Saudi Arabia and Oman will come to this facility to be trained.”